WATERLOO -- Speeding motorists here are now subject to fines even if they're not pulled over by police officers.

Waterloo has joined a number of other cities using automated traffic enforcement cameras to capture images of vehicles exceeding the speed limit and issue fines to the owners by mail.

The police department is expected Wednesday to begin using the first of three hand-held lidar units supplied by Gatso USA, of Beverly, Mass. A mobile speed trailer and several stationary cameras to capture those running red lights are still on the way.

WATERLOO — The city will begin using cameras to fine those who speed and run red lights.

Police Chief Dan Trelka said the speed cameras will be issuing warnings initially before switching to fines Nov. 30.

City Council members voted in August to authorize the use of automated traffic enforcement and entered a three-year contract with Gatso USA to supply and operate the cameras in return for $36 from each ticket paid.

While some have criticized the move as an attempt to boost city revenue on the backs of residents and visitors, Trelka said he believes the system will improve traffic safety.

The city doesn't plan to advertise the location of the speed camera enforcement, and motorists may not realize they've been nabbed until the fine arrives in their mailbox.

"We've taken a lot of input from the community and our officers," Trelka said of the proposed locations. "They're like fishermen. They know where the fish are biting."

Trelka said the speed cameras will be used by police officers, primarily those on light-duty. The automated enforcement is much more efficient than traditional radar enforcement where an officer has to pull over a vehicle to write the ticket.

"That takes 20 minutes," he said. "That same officer can do 20 citations in 20 minutes with the hand-held camera."

The fine schedule established by the City Council sets speeding citations at $50 for six to 10 mph over the posted limit; $75 for 11 to 15 mph over; $100 for 16 to 20 mph over; and $200 for those going more than 20 mph over the posted limit.

Trelka noted that same $75 citation through automated enforcement would be a $222 state ticket. Unlike the state tickets, which count against a person's driving record, the civil citations won't affect car insurance rates.

After a speeder is captured on the hand-held camera, the data is sent to Gatso to verify the plates match the vehicle description. Then it is sent back to Waterloo police for a second officer to verify and approve issuing the citation.

The mailed notice will include a still image of the vehicle with the date, time, speed, officer's name and fine. It will also include a video link.

"You'll be able to see the video footage of you speeding," Trelka said.

A local appeal board has been established for those wishing to challenge the citation.

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(15) comments

It really irritates me to see Waterloo put these cameras in. It is just taxation at gun point. It is for revenue not safety. If the people of Waterloo put up with this gestapos tactic I've lost faith in them.

"For the love of money"! Period! They can write 20 citations in 20 minutes, to the car OWNERS because it would take 20minutes to write a citation to the driver. Trelka and the Waterloo city council "love" money and its money they love to spend! Boycott Waterloo and their businesses. Ask Trelka if city council members, police officers, the mayor, etc. will be issued tickets or will they be conveniently and quietly voided.

I am going to say this again. These citations, as they currently stand, are NOT ENFORCEABLE...they are UNCONSTITUTIONAL! Here is how your own County scams you. They take a picture of you "allegedly" breaking the law. Yet, they don't give you "notice" in order to let you know what infraction you committed. Instead, they rely on you being ignorant of the law and you send payment. However, if you ignore the citation, there is NOTHING they can legally do. These citations would MANDATE personal service upon you. Both the Iowa and United States Constitutions REQUIRE this....so, people who send in the money are the suckers......Here is what happens if you don't pay. If you don't pay, they have to pay a process server to serve you "notice". They cannot do anything more until you have legal "notice". And, for them to pay someone to serve you is about $40.00 per service. If they take pictures of 200 people per day that don't pay , that means they have to pay $40.00 x 200 people = $8000 per day. That's $40,000 per week; or $160,000 per month. There is NO law enforcement agency that is going to pay $160,000 per month to have its own people served who "allegedly" committed a crime...They would go bankrupt....this has been tried elsewhere and Iowa is trying to scam its own people..SMH

These speed cameras are expensive and will produce profits above their own high costs ONLY when used in areas where the posted limits are less-safely and improperly set at least 10 mph below the safest 85th percentile speed levels for the purpose of creating lucrative speed traps to fine mostly safe drivers for profits. Speed cameras are a for-profit racket, not a safety program, because they simply cannot be used where the posted limits are correctly set to maximize safety. It is unfortunate, but the Iowa Department of Transportation does not force the use of the safest limits, they permit lucrative speed traps with under-posted limits that reduce safety overall.

I am not sure you are able to get past the fact they are unconstitutional and unenforceable without due process...NOTICE. Shouldn't you be an advocate for the people? It sure sounds like you're justifying this.

"dominicandad"... and your qualifications to spout "legal-ease" is what? Watching old re-runs of PERRY MASON? ...LAW AND ORDER? ... If you are an "expert" on such matters, I know a certain POTUS that could use your "legal opinion" and he has several vacancies.

"The city doesn't plan to advertise the location of the speed camera enforcement, and motorists may not realize they've been nabbed until the fine arrives in their mailbox."

This is not fair or just, to receive a citation, days or weeks later, when a driver won't even remember being in that location or who might have been driving the vehicle at the time. When a violator is stopped at the time of the speed or red light alleged violation, at least they have the opportunity to recall the road conditions or what their speedometer might have displaying just before being stopped. I have yet to see a reporter ask Chief Trelka specifically if ANYONE (including police officers on or off duty -not an emergency/redlights & siren call, city council members, the mayor, the police chief, etc.) will ever be able to have a ticket not issued or voided! AND how will the public know that tickets are not being voided? I imagine that Chief Trelka and the city council will be giddy over their newly found revenue source by screwing over drivers!Also reporters, how about finding out for the public how these cameras will be maintained, calibrated and will not be able to be tinkered with to get the results that the chief so desperately desires.Will yellow lights be shortened on stoplights? And no, I've never been cited for speeding or a stoplight violation! (Knock on wood)

Studies here shown that in areas where motorist are aware of the cameras, speeding and accidents are both reduced. Those same studies also indicate that when motorist are unaware of camera locations they is no reduction in speeding or accident locations. Unadvertised locations do result in a significantly higher number of citations being issued. That Waterloo has chosen a strategy that has been proven to be the least effective but generate the most revenue should make their motive obvious. If the police want to increase revenue and safety how about a complete ban on cell phone use while driving that is rigorously enforced with hefty fines.

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